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Just because someone is old does not mean that they can no longer drive. There are many ways that an older person can work on improving their driving skills. Toyota dealer in the Trenton area gives some tips to older drivers that can help them remain safe on the road. What an Older Driver Can Do To Help Their Driving It is important that anybody of any age is physically active, but it can be especially important as you get older for a number of reasons. One good reason is to stay strong and flexible. Driving requires strength in many ways, such as keeping a good grip on the steering wheel and braking with force when needed.  It also requires flexibility when having to turn your neck and your back in order to do things like reverse your vehicle and change lanes. Another very important thing to do is check that your vision and your hearing are good, since you obviously need both of those when driving. Regular doctor visits need to occur in order to make sure that you are not impaired in any way. Some Additional Things You Should Keep a Close Eye On Any medical conditions that could potentially affect your driving and put people in danger should be properly managed. This would include paying attention to the side effects that any medications you are taking can cause. Always read the labels on everything and check with your doctor. If necessary, restrict your driving to ensure that you are safe behind the wheel.

If you got used to the lack of school buses on the road over the summer months, it’s time to wake up again and remember safety tips for driving when school is in session.  The fall season is statistically dangerous for pedestrians, as there are more people on the roads either waiting for buses or walking to or from school.  Here are some back to school reminders from your Toyota Dealer in the Trenton Area: Slow through School Zones In most New England states, the streets where schools are located have school zones and lower speed limits between 15 and 30 miles per hour.  Remember to slow down around schools and watch for children darting between cars or running to get to or from school.  Children are often impulsive, even when they know road safety rules, and their unpredictability can be dangerous if a driver isn’t paying attention. Don’t Tailgate or Pass a Stopped School Bus If you have children of your own you know how frustrating and stressful it can be driving if the kids are rough housing in the backseat, arguing, or even just playing loudly.  Think about what it feels like to drive a bus of 50 or more kids on it!  Don’t tailgate a school bus, and give the driver plenty of room to merge or do what they need to do.  Never pass a stopped school bus, with or without lights flashing – you never know if a kid is unexpectedly going to run out to try and catch the bus before it takes off. Give Yourself Extra Time When school is in session, the increase of traffic and pedestrians can create delays you don’t have over the summer months.  Remember this when planning your day and give yourself extra time so you don’t feel rushed on the roads.

Some vehicles require that you buy extra warranties if you want the peace of mind that comes with these plans. With Toyota, you can buy or lease a new car and automatically receive a complimentary Toyota Care plan, available at our Pennsylvania Toyota dealership.  The Toyota Care plan offers roadside assistance and free maintenance for new Toyota purchases up to 25,000 miles or two years.  If you buy a Prius Plug-in, the coverage is extended to three years. Toyota Care Coverage The complimentary plan covers a number of services, including: Oil and oil filter changes for 25,000 miles/2 years 24/7 lockout services Tire rotation for 25,000 miles/2 years 24/7 flat tire changes 24/7 towing services 24/7 fuel delivery if you run out of gas 24/7 jump-start services The roadside assistance provides the services for no charge, but does not include fluids or parts needed for the Toyota. Additional Coverage for RAV4 EV In addition to the basic Toyota Care coverage, buyers of the RAV4 also get three years of roadside assistance coverage for towing to a dealership within 100 miles – including services if your RAV4 EV runs out of charge.  This gives you extra peace of mind if making the switch to an electric vehicle for the first time.  The plan will also cover inspection and adjustment of fluid levels. Toyota Care Limitations If you lease a Toyota instead of buying, you are still covered under the Toyota care plan.  If buying a vehicle for rental cars, taxi cars, commercial fleet or delivery services, you cannot get the Toyota Care plan.

Pennsylvania Toyota dealership warns you about the potential deadly dangers of heatstroke in your car. Summer is upon us, and that means that the dangers of heat-related illnesses and deaths are upon us, too. What you Should Know Never, ever leave your child or your pet unattended in a parked car during the hot summer months. While you should never leave them unattended at any given time, it is especially crucial when it is hot outside. Heatstroke can happen much faster than you probably think. The temperature in your car will rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Even if it is only 60 degrees outside, the temperature in your car can still rise to over 110 degrees. How to Prevent It from Happening Even if you just need to run into the grocery store really quick for bread, never leave your child or your pet unattended in your car intentionally. That is a given. You especially need to pay close attention to not doing it accidentally. It is a very common occurrence for people to accidentally lock their child or their pet in their car. This is so dangerous if the car is off and the windows are up. Make it a serious habit of checking both the front and the back seats before you close the car doors, and especially before you lock them and walk away. Don’t ever let your children play in your car, and don’t ever allow them to possibly have access to your car without you knowing about it.

Toyota dealer near Philadelphia helps you decide what kind of vehicle is the right fit for your traveling family. If you have the type of family that spends a lot of time on the road, then you will want to be sure that you’re driving a vehicle that will adequately meet everyone’s needs. The Most Important Things to Look For When purchasing any vehicle, there are tons of different things that are probably important to you. When purchasing a vehicle mainly for the intention of using it for travel, there should be some more particular things that you will want to look for. One of the most important things is size. You definitely don’t want to jam your family into a small vehicle if they’re going to be spending a lot of time in it. You will want enough space for comfort and to store your luggage. Another important thing to look for is safety and reliability. Take a close look at the features it has to offer, including air bags, seatbelts, tires, and the brake system. Comfort features are also important. Pay attention to things like the seating and materials, ventilation systems, and audio systems. Some Additional Things to Look For Aside from the main things to look for, there are some additional things that should not be overlooked. Check out the gas mileage. While larger vehicles are less fuel efficient than smaller ones, it still can’t hurt to compare a few different models. Of course, pricing is something that can never be overlooked. Weigh out your options to see if a new or a used vehicle will give you more for your money.

Toyota dealer in the Trenton area stresses that one of the most important things you should be doing to your vehicle is checking its tires regularly. Not only is this important in keeping your vehicle running well, but it is important in keeping yourself and your passengers safe. Your tires are the only things that attach your vehicle to the road, which makes them an essential component. Checking your Tires You should be checking your tires regularly. Get in the habit of frequently checking the pressure of each tire. You can even do this yourself by getting your own digital tire gauge. Be sure to check them when the vehicle has been sitting for a while and the tires are cool. This will give you a more accurate reading. Your tires will lose air over time, so it is important to keep them filled to the correct amount. Always be sure to check the owner’s manual for your vehicle to be sure that you are inflating them properly. Fixing a Tire You should never hesitate to fix or replace a tire. If a tire is damaged, see if it can be repaired, or get a new one.  Look for things such as cracks and cuts. If a tire is low on air, address the issue immediately. Under-inflated tires are the number one cause of tire failure. In addition, they can lower your gas mileage and decrease the life of your tires.

You don't want to be driving in a car with brakes that fail or are starting to fail.  The inability to stop is scary and can cause serious accidents and injuries.  Learn the signs that your brakes need to be replaced before it gets to this point from your Toyota dealership near Philadelphia. Check Your Brake Pads The pads are what squeeze the rotor to make the car stop.  Look in between your wheel spokes and locate the round, metal rotor.  If you don't have spokes you can see through, remove the tire to see the rotor. You'll see the pads attached to calipers on the outside.  If the pads are under one-quarter of an inch thick, you need to get them changed. Vibrating Pulsing and vibrations of the brake pedal when braking indicate a rotor is warped. The brake pads are unable to grip the rotor correctly.  Warping happens after long periods of braking like driving down a steep mountain or towing a heavy load. Squeaking and Grinding Brake pads are designed so that when they are too worn down, the driver will be alerted by this noise.  Replace the brakes right away.  If you hear a grinding, you've let the pads run down way too far and are doing damage to the rotors. This is much more expensive than replacing the pads. Pedal Sinking to the Floor If the brake pedal falls all the way down to the floor or your brake response time is slowing, the brake system might have a leak.  The leak could be in the hose or it is leaking fluid. If you see a puddle on the ground beneath where you park the car it could be a sign of a brake fluid leak.

We live in a fast paced, busy world where everybody needs to be somewhere five minutes ago.  Sitting in traffic unable to move to your destination fast enough is frustrating.  Perhaps you cut someone off to get ahead of them and then they shout obscenities and you reply with a rude gesture.  Getting angry behind the wheel is road rage, and it can cause accidents,  injuries, and above all, unnecessary stress.  Your Pennsylvania Toyota dealership cares about its drivers and is offering advice on how to avoid road rage situations. Don't Cut People Off A survey by AAA found this to be one of the most irritating behaviors to other drivers.  Be certain that you have plenty of room before you merge in front of someone.  Own up to it if you do cut someone off accidentally, and apologize with an appropriate gesture or wave. Listen to Relaxing Music If you find yourself getting upset, you may need to change the channel.  Avoid loud aggressive music and opt for something more relaxing like jazz or easy listening music to help calm your mood.  A comedy channel on satellite radio could do the trick too. Avoid Eye Contact with an Aggressive Driver If someone on the road is upsetting you or acting erratically, don't look directly at them.  Eye contact can be misinterpreted as a personal threat or challenge.  Keep your eyes on the road and concentrate on getting to where you're going safely. Put Yourself in Their Shoes Not every annoying of aggressive act on the road is a personal vendetta.  Try to think of a reason why the driver is behaving that way before flipping out.  That woman may be driving exactly the speed limit in front of you because she already has a speeding ticket.  A person weaving in and out of lanes may be facing an emergency situation or heading to the hospital. Think of a time you may have behaved the exact same way, and remember no one is perfect before losing your cool.

Summer is a time for opening the pool, cleaning off the patio and tending to the garden.  Many drivers don't realize that their vehicle needs special attention this time of year too. Take these tips from Hatfield Toyota on how to prepare your car for summer, so that you don't have any unexpected problems. Look Over the Air Conditioning and Cooling Systems Summer is the prime time for an engine overheat, so make sure all of the cooling fluids are at their proper levels and that the air conditioning systems are working correctly.  Remove any debris such as leaves or dirt that built up over the winter to allow for proper air flow near the radiator.  Check that the radiator cap is not damaged in any way too.  If you're planning a long road trip, have a professional mechanic check the vehicle out first. Remove Snow Tires If you live in an area with harsh winters, chances are you have snow tires.  Summer is the time to change them to all-season.  If you continue to use the winter tires, they risk damage from hot and dry roads.  Keep on top of your tires' pressure and make sure it's at the correct level as well. Protect the Exterior Tend to your vehicle's undercarriage to remove as much salt and winter buildup as possible.  Use the undercarriage wash as an option at your car wash, or use a garden hose or sprinkler to loosen any junk on the bottom.  Also wash the rest of the car and give it a coat of wax to protect the paint from the sun's UV rays.  Park in the shade as often as you can.

Your Toyota dealer in the Trenton area suggests that parents enforce teen driving curfews. Our dealership doesn't want to ruin anyone's good time, but we think it's important for teen drivers to stay as safe as possible. Limiting when they get to drive gives parents more control. Accidents Often Happen at Night Teen drivers don't have much experience driving at night. They need to learn, but it's best for them to get experience slowly. Just because someone has a license doesn't mean that he has mastered the craft of operating a motor vehicle.   Even experienced drivers can run into problems driving down dark roads. Things get even more confusing and complicated when it starts to rain.   Asking your kids to come home at a certain time will limit their exposure so they can learn in a safe environment. Protecting Teens From Drunk Drivers Cops don't arrest many drunk drivers during the day. That usually happens at night and in the early morning. By making your kids come home at a decent hour, you can protect them from drunk drivers who can't control their vehicles. Give Your Kids Alternatives A curfew can work well for most teens. But you have to make sure your teen driver knows that he can trust you. If a situation arises that's beyond his control, have some understanding. Don't immediately hand out a punishment.   Also, make sure your teen knows that he should never drive under the influence. If that means getting a ride from mom or dad, or crashing at someone's house, so be it. You can have a conversation about the consequences after you know he's safe.

Hatfield Toyota wants to make sure that you stay safe on the road, even when you have an accident or mechanical problems. Carrying a roadside emergency kit can keep you safer and help you get out of jams. But first, you have to know what items to put in your emergency kit. Always Have a Working Flashlight If you get stranded at night, you have to have a working flashlight. Without one, you won't be able to do anything except wait for the dawn. Check the batteries every few months to make sure they still work. Include Road Flares or Caution Signs Oncoming traffic might not see your car on the side of the road. That creates a dangerous situation. As long as you have road flares or reflective caution signs, drivers will see you. A Pair of Gloves You might need to do a little work under the hood to get your car started. If you've been driving for a while, then your engine will be hot! A thick pair of gloves will offer some protection as you look for the problem. A Cell Phone You may need to call for help. Keep an emergency cell phone in your kit so you can call from anywhere. You don't have to pay monthly fees when you get a pay-as-you-go phone. Instead, you just load minutes on the phone and use it when needed. A Jug of Water If your car runs out of coolant, a jug of water could get you to the nearest gas station. It's not ideal, but it's a quick fix to get out of a bad situation.

Your Toyota dealer in the Trenton area knows that you have plenty of options when you want to get your car detailed. Instead of choosing a detailer at random, follow this advice to find one that can get the job done well at an affordable price. Tip #1: Ask for Recommendations You're hardly the first person in town to use a car detailer. Your friends, family, and colleagues have problem tried a few, so ask them to give you recommendations. Pay attention to the negative comments as well as the positive ones. It's important to avoid unreliable detailers. Tip #2: Use the Internet to Research Detailers The Internet is a great way to read reviews written by people you don't know. That means a broader range of opinions. Remember, though, that some people right inflammatory reviews. Try to get a consensus. Don't choose or avoid a detailer because of one or two reviews. Tip #3: Talk to the Detailer Either call or visit the detailer so you can get specific information. Find out what the company does; what detailing packages they offer; and how much they charge. You can also get a good sense of customer service by talking to an employee or manager. If you get honest, straight-forward answers, that's a good sign. If they barely have time for you, then you might want to choose someone else. Tip #4: Give it a Try At this point, you'll probably have several detailers that you think will do a good job. Choose one and let them have a shot at detailing your car. If you like the results, then keep using them. If you're not happy, move on to someone else next time.